Lima, Peru – New bike lanes and cleaner air for all will be just two of the legacies of Lima’s Urban Climate Action Programme (UCAP) Climate Action Implementation (CAI) Programme, which officially came to an end.
As part of ‘British Week 2025’, a closing ceremony took place yesterday in the Hall of Mirrors of the Municipal Palace of Lima, attended by the Municipal Councilor, Giuliana Calambrogio, the British Ambassador to Peru, Gavin Cook, and C40’s interim Regional Director for Latin America, Cristina Argudo. They were joined by representatives from municipal authorities, universities, citizen groups, civil society organizations, and international bodies, evidencing the multisectoral and collaborative nature of the process.
Since 2022, UCAP CAI, funded by the UK government, has supported Lima in the execution of strategic projects aimed at reducing emissions, improving air quality, and promoting sustainable mobility with an inclusive approach.
During today’s event, the programme’s main achievements were highlighted, including the development of the cycle-inclusive strategy for Lima, which allowed for the evaluation of more than 100 kilometers of the existing cycling network under the criteria of equity and inclusion, prioritizing women, girls, boys, youth, and the elderly. Based on this analysis, technical studies were developed for the creation of new bike paths, including 5 kilometers on Universitaria Avenue, and it was estimated that, by 2040, the city could have 1.8 million new bicycle trips. This change will have decisive impacts on public health and emission reduction, avoiding more than two thousand premature deaths and around 18,580 tons of carbon dioxide, which is equivalent to removing approximately 4,300 cars from Lima’s traffic.
Another highly significant result was the design of the country’s first Clean Air Zone in Lima’s Historic Center. Thanks to technical studies developed within the framework of the programme, the social, economic, and health co-benefits of pedestrianization were evaluated, and a roadmap with goals, key actors, and financing mechanisms was developed. As a first major step, in July 2025, the permanent reorganization of traffic in the Damero de Pizarro was approved, transforming several streets into pedestrian spaces and marking the beginning of a structural transformation towards a healthier and more accessible historic center. It was projected that by 2035, the Clean Air Zone could reduce particulate matter emissions by 96%, generating savings of over 4.4 million soles in public health costs.
The interventions presented reinforced Lima’s leadership in urban climate action in Latin America and showed that the Peruvian capital has become a regional benchmark in active mobility and air quality.
Gavin Cook, British Ambassador to Peru, highlighted the UK’s role as a strategic ally in promoting innovative solutions to address the climate crisis: “We must take an active role in addressing environmental challenges. Collaborations like this make this possible, driving practical changes that improve the quality of life for Lima’s residents. I’m proud of the progress made in improving sustainable urban mobility, such as the design of clean air zones and the creation of an inclusive cycle strategy that will increase the number of cycleways by 50% and improve their integration with other modes of transportation in the city. All of this contributes to strengthening long-term capacities. That’s what a true partnership means: creating a legacy.”
Elvira Moscoso, Manager of Urban Mobility of the Metropolitan Municipality of Lima, reaffirmed the city’s commitment to a sustainable and people-centered development model: “This study shows us how many people could switch to cycling if they had the right conditions. It also highlights the positive impact this would have on the environment. It’s an important tool for making better decisions about urban mobility.”
Cristina Argudo, C40’s interim Regional Director for Latin America, said: “The Lima experience demonstrates how political will, international support, and technical evidence enable the implementation of transformative and ambitious actions with direct benefits for citizens, especially for the most vulnerable groups.”
The UCAP CAI programme closing event in Lima left a balance of tangible advances and a legacy of strengthened capacities that can be replicated in other cities in the region. With the cycle-inclusive strategy and the creation of the country’s first Clean Air Zone, Lima took a decisive step towards cleaner, safer, and more inclusive mobility, and towards better quality air for all its residents.